unSeminary Podcast

Join Bo Chancey, Senior Pastor, and Jeremy Peterson, Executive Pastor, from One Church in New Hampshire as they discuss their innovative multisite approach. They emphasize the power of prayer in fostering community and unity across locations. Delve into their model of local communicators delivering live messages, enhancing engagement. They also share insights on nurturing future leaders and adapting church practices to connect in a post-religious culture. Discover how their focus on discipleship is transforming lives beyond just attendance.

Exploring the challenges of multisite ministry, the discussion highlights the balance between centralized identity and local campus adaptation. Key strategies for maintaining unity are shared, including the importance of strong governance and effective communication. The role of campus pastors evolves as they lead larger frameworks, ensuring alignment with the church's mission. Successful churches identify non-negotiable constants, while allowing localized adaptations to thrive, exemplified by Life.Church's meticulous service replication.

Rick Langston and Daniel Simmons from The Summit Church share their insights on successfully leading a multi-site church with clarity and purpose. They discuss the church's evolution and the importance of maintaining a unified identity across campuses while ensuring flexibility in local engagement. The conversation emphasizes empowering leaders, effective communication, and the PACE framework to foster mission-driven growth. Listeners will appreciate practical strategies for building community and nurturing leadership in a growing church environment.

Multisite churches are booming, growing from a few hundred to over 5,000 in just two decades. Discover why this model excels in reaching more people and engaging volunteers. Learn the critical prerequisites for launching a multisite, including the importance of a healthy growth momentum, a clear mission, and a robust volunteer base. Avoid common pitfalls that can derail your plans and understand that multisite is more than just expansion—it's about meaningful outreach and impact in the community.

Kara Powell, Executive Director at the Fuller Youth Institute, shares her expertise in engaging the next generation. She emphasizes the importance of relational discipleship as a means to bridge the generational gap. Churches must build trust and genuine relationships rather than relying solely on programs. Powell highlights a remarkable transformation story where a struggling church revitalized itself by actively listening to its community, growing from 75 to 1,500 members by focusing on local college students. Her insights inspire meaningful engagement and community involvement.

Diana Rush, the Senior Director of Build Community at Eastside Christian Church, shares her expertise on navigating the complexities of middle management in large church settings. She discusses the critical balance between communicating effectively with senior leadership and supporting direct reports. Diana emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in leadership and building trust through reliability and transparency. She also addresses the challenges of fostering a supportive culture while managing team dynamics and streamlining operations across multiple campuses.

Amy Anderson, managing director at The Unstuck Group, brings her extensive expertise in multi-site church leadership to the conversation. She discusses how churches can identify growth barriers and emphasizes the importance of assessing and restructuring staffing to enhance productivity. Amy shares strategies for creating effective staffing plans, monitoring key indicators of organizational health, and fostering meaningful relationships within church teams. Highlights include the tension between lead and executive pastors and the necessity of aligning vision with strategy.

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. We’re talking with Tyler Vance, the COO of Apollos, a digital platform designed to help churches thrive by using technologies for personal growth. Despite being more digitally connected than ever, people lack deep, meaningful relationships. Gen Z has often been called the loneliest generation in history. However, churches are uniquely […]

Rick and Patti Love, co-founders of Love New Canadians and Love New Internationals, share their passion for immigrant ministry. They discuss a three-stage model that emphasizes building friendships before spiritual engagement. The Loves encourage churches to understand demographics and foster connections through community initiatives. They highlight innovative programs like 'Project Confidence' aimed at enhancing English skills and boosting self-esteem. By creating structured pathways and cultural events, churches can effectively welcome and serve immigrants in their neighborhoods.

Chad Bickley, Executive Pastor at Skyline Church, shares his expertise on cultivating a thriving staff culture in a growing church. He discusses the critical need to hire the right people and maintain team alignment with the church's vision. Bickley highlights six core behaviors—attitude, commitment, work ethic, accountability, trust, and love—that are essential for team cohesion. He also emphasizes the importance of communication and connection in building a healthy organizational culture, ensuring the staff remains focused and productive as the church expands.